Published: Saturday, July 27, 2013 at 11:28 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, July 27, 2013 at 11:28 a.m.

Korean War veterans often say they served in the “forgotten war.” But those veterans were anything but forgotten on the campus of USC Upstate on Saturday.

A standing room crowd of well over 500 people, including family, friends and other veterans, honored the Upstate's Korean War veterans.

The event, organized by Sen. Tim Scott, was one of two in the state meant to pay tribute to South Carolina's thousands of Korean War-era troops – thanking those still alive and remembering those who have passed.

The honor ceremony was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the armistice that effectively ended the war, although no formal treaty was signed.

“This war should never be forgotten and in my family, it will never be forgotten,” Scott said while praising those who served. “So many times you didn't get the 'Thank you' you deserved. There aren't words to say 'Thank you' properly.”

Hundreds of veterans from across the Upstate attended the event, which featured a keynote address from former prisoner of war 1st Lt. Bill Funchess and music from the Fort Jackson Brass Quintet.

Willie J. Foggie of Waterloo served in the Army from 1951 to 1953, including nine months on the front lines.

Foggie said it felt good to be remembered and thanked after so many years.

“I'm just glad I was able to serve my country and come back home safe,” he said. “A lot of my buddies didn't.”

Funchess, who lives in Clemson, spoke at length about his time in Korea.

He arrived in the country just days after the war began and fought for four months before being taken prisoner in November 1950.

Funchess spent most of the war in prisoner of war camps, surrounded by starvation and freezing cold while being subjected to indoctrination attempts by the North Korean army.

Bodies of his fellow soldiers were piled on a hillside without ceremony, he said.

“As far as I know, those bodies are still lying on that hillside,” Funchess said. “I know there are more than 1,000 bodies on that hillside.”

Funchess was one of the last American prisoners of war returned because the North Koreans held him as a war criminal, blaming him for atrocities that Funchess said were committed by North Koreans.

He was finally freed on Sept. 6, 1953, after being driven to a narrow path and made to walk towards an American ambulance. The path was flanked on both sides by landmines.

Funchess said he was unaware of what was happening at the time because he could not see the ambulance, but kept walking because he didn't know what else to do.

His freedom didn't set in until after the ambulance doors had closed, he said.

“My war, the forgotten war, had finally come to an end,” he said.

Terry Simmons, an Army veteran who was wounded in the Vietnam War, praised Funchess and said he came for the opportunity to hear him speak.

Like Vietnam veterans, Simmons said Korean War veterans were largely overlooked and said he came to show his support.

William “Smitty” Summer, an Army veteran from Joanna who served from 1950 to 1951 in Korea, agreed with the “forgotten war” status.

“I think we have been,” he said. “Everyone's forgotten what we've done. But it's good to be recognized."

Scott, who was brought to tears during the ceremony, said he hoped those in the audience would gain a better appreciation of the sacrifices made in Korea.

“So many men and women serve our country so well, make us so proud,” he said.

<p>Korean War veterans often say they served in the “forgotten war.” But those veterans were anything but forgotten on the campus of USC Upstate on Saturday.</p><p>A standing room crowd of well over 500 people, including family, friends and other veterans, honored the Upstate's Korean War veterans.</p><p>The event, organized by Sen. Tim Scott, was one of two in the state meant to pay tribute to South Carolina's thousands of Korean War-era troops – thanking those still alive and remembering those who have passed.</p><p>The honor ceremony was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the armistice that effectively ended the war, although no formal treaty was signed.</p><p>“This war should never be forgotten and in my family, it will never be forgotten,” Scott said while praising those who served. “So many times you didn't get the 'Thank you' you deserved. There aren't words to say 'Thank you' properly.”</p><p>Hundreds of veterans from across the Upstate attended the event, which featured a keynote address from former prisoner of war 1st Lt. Bill Funchess and music from the Fort Jackson Brass Quintet.</p><p>Willie J. Foggie of Waterloo served in the Army from 1951 to 1953, including nine months on the front lines.</p><p>Foggie said it felt good to be remembered and thanked after so many years.</p><p>“I'm just glad I was able to serve my country and come back home safe,” he said. “A lot of my buddies didn't.”</p><p>Funchess, who lives in Clemson, spoke at length about his time in Korea.</p><p>He arrived in the country just days after the war began and fought for four months before being taken prisoner in November 1950.</p><p>Funchess spent most of the war in prisoner of war camps, surrounded by starvation and freezing cold while being subjected to indoctrination attempts by the North Korean army.</p><p>Bodies of his fellow soldiers were piled on a hillside without ceremony, he said.</p><p>“As far as I know, those bodies are still lying on that hillside,” Funchess said. “I know there are more than 1,000 bodies on that hillside.”</p><p>Funchess was one of the last American prisoners of war returned because the North Koreans held him as a war criminal, blaming him for atrocities that Funchess said were committed by North Koreans.</p><p>He was finally freed on Sept. 6, 1953, after being driven to a narrow path and made to walk towards an American ambulance. The path was flanked on both sides by landmines.</p><p>Funchess said he was unaware of what was happening at the time because he could not see the ambulance, but kept walking because he didn't know what else to do.</p><p>His freedom didn't set in until after the ambulance doors had closed, he said.</p><p>“My war, the forgotten war, had finally come to an end,” he said.</p><p>Terry Simmons, an Army veteran who was wounded in the Vietnam War, praised Funchess and said he came for the opportunity to hear him speak.</p><p>Like Vietnam veterans, Simmons said Korean War veterans were largely overlooked and said he came to show his support.</p><p>William “Smitty” Summer, an Army veteran from Joanna who served from 1950 to 1951 in Korea, agreed with the “forgotten war” status.</p><p>“I think we have been,” he said. “Everyone's forgotten what we've done. But it's good to be recognized."</p><p>Scott, who was brought to tears during the ceremony, said he hoped those in the audience would gain a better appreciation of the sacrifices made in Korea.</p><p>“So many men and women serve our country so well, make us so proud,” he said.</p>